Da Liang was south of the Heng River, with Da Qian to the north, the Peacock Dynasty to the west, barbarians to the south, and a vast sea to the east. Foreign merchant ships often plied these waters, so the occasional arrival of guests with blonde hair and blue eyes was not unusual. Moreover, blonde hair and blue eyes were not exclusive to the Tianri tribe.
Among the crowd behind, four men and women, their faces veiled, revealed only a pair of blue eyes.
These four, watching the entourage and the ever-vigilant Shadow Guards, felt their anger intensify.
Assassination was impossible; they dared not even appear within the Shadow Guards' sight.
Liang Xiao, with a smile, waved to the people of Da Liang, exclaiming, "It is fortunate!"
Zhuo Xun, observing the joyous citizens around her, her beautiful eyes filled with mirth.
When Zhuo Zifang had visited Da Liang years ago, she had been just a child, but she remembered the people cheering, "Lord Zhuo Ling!" It was said that the Marquis of Zhenguo of Da Liang had received a similar reception on his first trip to the capital.
Now, almost all the people of Da Liang were calling out for her husband, and "Lord Zhuo Ling" was scarcely heard.
The scholars of both nations were a galaxy of stars, with Zhuo Zifang and Qin Feng as their brightest twin stars, renowned throughout both realms.
Yet, today, neither shone as brightly as they once did.
"Worthy of being the Three Gentlemen of Two Nations!"
After a long period of cheering, the people of Da Liang finally realized that Zhuo Zifang and Qin Feng were also beside Liang Xiao. Zhuo Zifang, in a position of seniority, occupied the main seat, with the families of Liang Xiao and Qin Feng flanking him.
The crowd thus praised the names of the three.
The wives behind Qin Feng could only sigh inwardly.
They had already noticed that the people of Da Liang seemed to respect and favor Liang Xiao more than their own Qin Feng. For Da Liang, this was not a good omen.
Zhuo Zifang, though smiling, was deeply disappointed.
Was Zhuo Yun still unwilling to appear on such a grand occasion?
Liang Xiao stood on the carriage. Coupled with his own height, he was essentially looking down from above, able to observe the surrounding situation.
His gaze fell upon the group of blue-eyed, masked figures. Liang Xiao's heart grew wary, and he quietly instructed He Zizhang behind him.
He Zizhang immediately turned to mobilize the Shadow Guards.
The four blue-eyed men and women, sensing the Shadow Guards approaching, had no choice but to abandon their observation and withdraw from the crowd.
After shaking off the Shadow Guards from a distance, the four returned to a basement in a civilian residence, removed their masks, and their eyes burned with ferocity.
Among them was Kristy's elder sister, Iris!
"At all costs, ensure Liang Xiao dies in Da Liang!" Iris said menacingly.
A woman reminded her, "Your Highness, if that happens, won't Da Liang truly surrender to Da Qian, making it impossible for us to easily conquer Da Liang!"
Iris retorted angrily, "With so many aristocratic clans holding sway, is surrender that easy? Besides, even so, the entire Da Liang is not as threatening as Liang Xiao alone!"
After calming her anger, Iris sighed repeatedly, at a loss.
The two men and one woman had never seen their princess so lacking in confidence, and dared not ask, merely writing silently on paper.
Upon receiving news from the Shadow Guards, He Zizhang whispered to Liang Xiao, "They've run."
Liang Xiao simply nodded, instructing the Shadow Guards to maintain vigilance.
It was only because of his extraordinary eyesight that he had spotted the group of men and women.
With the crowd so dense in the distance, it was unrealistic for the Shadow Guards to catch up.
After twenty thousand people successively landed, the Da Qian Zhen Guard and most of the Shadow Guards set up camp and rested on the shore.
By this time, the civil and military officials of Da Liang had departed long ago with Mu Cheng, who had dispatched a flying horse ahead to report to Qin Feng.
Inside the carriage, Su Wanqing, whose belly was visibly growing, glanced at a visibly excited Mu Cheng with unease.
She had already heard from the disciples of the Huichun Sect that even her master could not gain an advantage over Liang Xiao.
Later, she heard Qin Feng mention in passing that Liang Xiao could discern the true meaning behind musical pieces.
It was highly likely that Liang Xiao had already perceived her seductive melodies when he listened to the zither back then.
How would she face him when they met again?
"His Majesty has arrived!"
Ceremonial music sounded in the distance. Liang Xiao looked at the convoy of thousands of people, his heart filled with complex emotions.
He could see that besides the imperial carriage, there were numerous carriages belonging to princes, lords, and generals, indicating the grandeur of the occasion.
Such a grand scale was not necessary when receiving envoys from a neighboring country.
The citizens retreated to a distance, gazing at the carriages of Da Liang's monarch and officials with reverence.
Just as Liang Xiao was about to move to rendezvous with Mu Cheng, Qin Feng stopped him, "His Majesty had previously stated that you should be treated with great courtesy."
Liang Xiao understood and waited in place.
After Mu Cheng helped Su Wanqing alight from the carriage, he eagerly scanned the distance.
Upon spotting the tall, imposing figure amidst the crowd and seeing his face, Mu Cheng's heart was overcome with a flood of emotions.
"So alike, truly alike!"
Su Wanqing, hearing Mu Cheng's murmur, also lowered her head, the hand Mu Cheng held trembling slightly.
Liang Xiao's arrival might cause her to lose everything, but Mu Cheng looked forward with anticipation, and she could only support him.
Seeing Mu Cheng's face, Liang Xiao finally felt relieved.
He had genuinely worried about a melodramatic scenario, such as Mu Cheng being an illegitimate son of his grandfather, Liang Qing, left out in the cold, orchestrating a 'raccoon for a prince' scheme in Da Liang, and then he himself being the child entrusted to his father, Liang Anguo, by Mu Cheng.
Mu Cheng's appearance did not suggest any blood relation to him.
He had already seen Mu Cheng's reaction.
It was not just joy; the expression and gaze were extremely complex, tinged with a hint of nostalgia?
Liang Xiao was now fairly certain that there might indeed be a connection to his father.
However, soon after, Liang Xiao's attention shifted to a robust man standing behind Mu Cheng.
This man had a handsome yet sinister countenance, but bore three to four parts resemblance to Zuo Jing and Zuo Wushang, particularly his high-bridged nose and, like Zuo Wushang, his hawk-like eyes, making him highly recognizable.
Standing behind Liang Xiao, Zuo Wushang, disguised as a Shadow Guard, tugged at Liang Xiao's sleeve, "He's here."
Liang Xiao understood and simply nodded slightly.
It was Zuo Wuji, no doubt about it.
At this moment, Zuo Wuji calmed his emotions and regained his composed demeanor, merely standing guard beside Mu Cheng, watching Liang Xiao from afar.
The Zhenbei Army was responsible for guarding the northern and northwestern borders. He had vehemently opposed the Da Qian Zhen Guard and Shadow Guards crossing the river to station themselves.
If Liang Xiao were to break convention and capture the Da Liang Emperor, he, the Marquis of Zhenbei, would also lose his position.
The surrounding citizens knelt down in succession, exclaiming "Long live the Emperor."
The people of Da Qian, being a foreign delegation and given Da Qian's superior national strength and status, were not required to kneel.
After ordering the citizens to rise, Mu Cheng, leading the civil and military officials, walked towards Liang Xiao under the astonished gaze of the crowd.
Yan Liu and others were filled with rage, yet helpless.
According to past practice, even Zhuo Zifang did not warrant such a reception. The Da Qian Emperor had never welcomed Qin Feng with such grandeur; envoys typically went to the capital to meet the emperor themselves.
Yet now, the monarch of a nation, accompanied by his civil and military officials, was coming to greet them. What kind of protocol was this!
But Mu Cheng paid no heed to their feelings.
Liang Xiao then cupped his fists towards Mu Cheng and said, "Liang Xiao, Grand General of Cavalry of Da Qian, greets the Emperor of Da Liang!"
"Good, good..."
Mu Cheng merely chuckled and, under the astonished and suspicious gazes of everyone, walked up to Liang Xiao, took his hand, and sighed several times.
"You've finally come."
Hearing the infinite sorrow in Mu Cheng's voice, everyone present was filled with apprehension, and even Zhuo Zifang was surprised.